Killer Calories: A Savannah Reid Mystery [Large Print] [Paperback]

G. A. McKevett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2005

The irresistible combination of murder and money brings sassy, savvy, full-figured P.I. Savannah Reid to a health spa to investigate the death of owner and former cult-flick actress Kat Valentina. The medical examiner called it an accidental mixture of booze and a hot tub, but Savannah's anonymous client thinks otherwise. If the exercise and nasty spa cuisine doesn't kill Savannah, there's a murderer close by who might finish the job.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

An anonymous note to saucy Savannah Reid instigates an investigation into the apparently accidental death of actress- turned-club owner Kat Valentina. This third bouncy adventure (e.g., Bitter Sweets, LJ 5/1/96) for the witty, sweet-toothed heroine is a real treat.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

A third chapter in the adventures of voluptuous, Georgia-born Savannah Reid (Bitter Sweets, 1996, etc.), who now runs the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency in San Carmelita, after a stint in the local police force. When Kat Valentina, a promiscuous onetime disco queen, is found dead in a mud bath at the Royal Palms spa--owned by Kat and husband Lou Hanks--the coroner's verdict is accidental death. Savannah, though, has received an anonymous letter, accompanied by a wad of cash, with a promise of more to come, asking her to investigate further. Her part-time assistant Tammy also works at the spa, and Savannah, leaving behind her beloved chocolate and doughnuts, checks in for an extended stay. Engineering a series of nosy interrogations and unauthorized room searches, Savannah quickly uncovers a slew of candidates for Kat's murder: Lou Hanks, beneficiary of her life insurance policy, which could save his failing enterprise; spa doctor Freeman Ross, who'd diagnosed Kat with breast cancer and was prepared, maybe, to do a Dr. Kevorkian; trainer Dion Zeller, frantically attempting to protect a secret he feared would be revealed; Phoebe and Ford Chesterfield--brother and sister--rich owners of the estate bordering Royal Palms who battled over Kat's campaign to seduce Ford. And there's more, in between Savannah's consultations with slobby Dirk Coulter, an old pal still on the police force; her escapes to forbidden foods with elegant gay friends John and Ryan; lots of raunchy dialogue; and, finally, a solution as silly as the rest of this hyperactive, overextended, mildly vulgar exercise. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing (November 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597220922
• ISBN-13: 978-1597220927
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,565,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since publication of her first novel in 1986, Sonja Massie has authored over fifty published works, including the highly popular and critically acclaimed SAVANNAH REID MYSTERIES under the pseudonym G. A. McKevett.

Sonja's novels range from Irish historicals to contemporary thrillers. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature.

Irish by ancestry, Sonja has authored two non-fiction books on the history of Ireland: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IRISH HISTORY AND CULTURE and IRISH PRIDE: 101 REASONS TO BE PROUD YOU'RE IRISH. Both books impart detailed knowledge of the complex and controversial Irish story with a light hand and plenty of humor. Her Irish novels include: DREAM CARVER, CAROUSEL, DAUGHTER OF IRELAND and the bestselling FAR AND AWAY - the novelization of the Ron Howard movie starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

On nationwide tours, Sonja lectures to published and "pre-published" authors in her workshop, "The Novel Approach," a seminar which covers such topics as: story structure, characterization, plotting, pacing, and marketing manuscripts.

Sonja has taught numerous courses at university and adult continuing education facilities including: general fiction, historical research, and mystery writing. She was managing editor at "Single Living" magazine and has functioned as a manuscript doctor and storyline editor for major publishers. Earlier in her career, she was a prolific ghostwriter, authoring both fictional and non-fictional books for celebrities and professionals.

Having lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and County Kerry, Ireland, she now resides in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another delctable Savannah Reid mystery, April 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer Calories (Savannah Reid Mysteries) (Hardcover)

In Southern California, club owner Kat Valentina is found dead. The
local coroner rules that the renowned former movie star's death was an
accidental drowning in her health spa caused by the consumption of too
much alcohol. Former Georgia police officer Savannah Reid operates a private
investigation company in the area that Kat was found dead. She begins
to investigate Kat's death when someone slips ten grand under her
office door.
......To start her inquiries, Savannah goes undercover and begins to work
at the spa. Several suspects come to light almost immediately with
motives for seeing Kat dead. Additionally, Savannah has to wonder if
it might have been suicide since Kat suffered from breast cancer. As she controls her appetite for sugar, Savannah continues to investigate a potential
murder that has too many suspects, making it not only difficult to
solve but leaving the intrepid Southern belle to question whether a murder even
occurred.
....... The third Savannah Reid who-done-it is a captivating mystery due to
the delightful Savannah, the supporting cast, and the well written
prose of G. A. McKevett. The who-done-it is relatively easy to figure
out but that does not take away from the charm of the book. It almost seems as if that this is the first course in a seven course meal. Fans of the
who-done-it sub-genre will want to dine on KILLER CALORIES as well as
the previous two tales (JUST DESERTS and BITTER SWEETS) because these books contain a female detective who knows how to enchant her readers.

........Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great adventure with Savannah Reid., October 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer Calories (Mass Market Paperback)

This was my favorite book of the three Savannah novels. She is a great character. I can hardly wait for the next one !

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Did someone say SPA?, July 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer Calories (Mass Market Paperback)

This was my favorite of the three-book series about Savannah Reid, detective and dessert gourmet! (though there was not enough Ryan Stone in this one!) Savannah is a wonderful sleuth who, along with her team (her former police partner, a bouncy detective-in-training, and two former CIA agents) follow the clues to reveal the secrets of the death of Kat Valentina. Along the way, Savannah must endure a week at the spa... something totally foreign to her dessert-loving nature.

I look forward to reading the next venture by this crime-solving team!